Safe from the Storm
As you probably know, a major hurricane hit the west coast of Florida last week. Given the strength of this storm and the fact that it was forecasted to make landfall very close to my home, it felt wise to get out of the way.
To make the best of an unfortunate situation, I decided to drive north to Atlanta to visit some dear friends and my godchildren. I thought I was getting out early last Monday, but apparently millions of Floridians had the same idea. Due to the extraordinarily high volume of cars on the road, a trip that normally takes 7.5 hours took 16.5 hours. I expected delays, but not an extra 9 hours of bumper-to-bumper traffic!
Nevertheless, I made it to my friend’s house around 6 AM on Tuesday morning. I can't recall a time when I've felt that mentally and physically depleted. It took me a whole day to recover from that experience, but I’m very grateful for the safe place to land.
I also had a small miracle in the middle of the night during that long journey. And by miracle, I mean a shift from fear to love.
It never occurred to me that filling up my gas tank would be a problem once I drove far enough into Georgia. I had filled up in Florida the day before this trip, so I thought I was good to go. To my surprise, when I started looking for fuel at about 2 AM, I discovered that gas stations in Georgia had diesel fuel, but not regular gasoline. People evacuating from two hurricanes in a row had wiped them out.
With no luck at the first exit near Valdosta, I tried again at the next one. There was lots of activity at the first station I pulled into, so I waited patiently behind a couple fussing with the nozzle at a regular pump. After a few minutes of trying, they looked at me and shook their heads indicating the pump was not working.
Oh well. There were a lot of gas stations along that road, so I tried a few others. Sadly, none had regular gasoline. I continued driving a few miles further down the road until there were no more gas stations. All I could do was turn around, get back on the interstate, and try the next exit.
But when I got close to the on-ramp, something told me to return to that first gas station where the couple was unsuccessful. I had to drive by it again anyway, so why not follow that impulse? Imagine my relief when I pulled up to a different pump and it worked!
With a full tank of gas, fear shifted to love and gratitude. I now had enough fuel to make it to Atlanta. It was a great reminder to listen to that little voice and those gut feelings even when they don’t seem to make sense. Guidance is always there when I need it. I just have to get in my “right mind,” the peaceful one.
Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, just a few miles from my home on Wednesday evening. Thankfully, the storm weakened from its most intense fury, but the damage was still significant. I’ve been in touch with many of my friends who stayed in town, and thankfully they are all okay. Some have power. Some do not. None had any significant damage to their homes. Even when devastating events like this happen, there is much to be grateful for.
Are you having trouble hearing that little voice during life’s most challenging storms? I would be honored to assist you with a series of Spiritual Coaching Sessions. Using the principles found in A Course in Miracles and Family Constellations, you will gain tools and insights to help you return to peace no matter what is happening in your life. From a peaceful state, you can communicate more consistently with the little voice that wants to guide you through any storm. Please look around my website or contact me for more information and to book your first session.
A big “thank you” to everyone who checked in and prayed with me before, during, and after the storm. I felt so incredibly loved and supported. Let’s join our hearts and minds to send peaceful prayers and well wishes to anyone severely affected by the storms. May they hear that little voice and trust those gut feelings to guide them to all the resources they need.
The still, small Voice…is not drowned out by all the ego’s raucous screams and senseless ravings to those who want to hear It.
A Course in Miracles ~ T-21.V.1:6